Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 03.djvu/519

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BREEDS AND BREEDIJNG. 457 BREHM. offspring. This system of breeding frequently implies the crossing of representatives of dif- ferent families of the same breed, and hence is sometimes referred to as "making a cross,' 'cross- breeding,' etc. Strictly speaking, however, cross- breeding is the coupling of animals of distinct breeds. A cross between an animal of a recog- nized breed and a native or unimproved stock is spoken of as "grading up,' and the product as a ■grade.' In the past crossbreeding has been prac- ticed for deriving new breeds or the improvement of a breed in some particular. At present, it is most commonly used as an occasional remedj- for some fault. There is a general belief that crossing usually results in increased size and vigor and greater fertility, although if cross- breeding is carried so far as to unite distinct species, fertility may be entirely lost. A familiar example of this is the crossing of the ass and the mare, resulting in the mule, which is a sterile hybrid. The control of the sex of the offspring has been a matter of speculation ever since the days of Aristotle, and a long list of rules have been ad- vanced which have found some measure of favor for a time. It still remains a matter of specu- lation, however, and in the present state of knowledge is entirely beyond the control of the breeder. The case appears to be similar with regard to the relative influence of the male and the female on the progeny. A variety of theories have been advanced and stoutly contended for — some to the effect that one parent controls the external appearance and the other the dis- position, others that the outward form and organs of locomotion are chiefly determined by the male, while the vital organs, size, and vigor are determined by the female. But we ha^'e yet to discover how the natures of the parents are mingled, and apparently have made very little advance in accurate knowledge. For a more detailed discussion of the theories, principles, and practice of breeding animals, the reader is referred to Darwin, Variations of Plants and Ani- mals Under Domestication (London, 1885); Miles, Stock Breeding (Xew York, 1878) ; and Warfield, Theory and Practice of Cattle Breed- ing (Xew York, 1889). The different breeds of live stock are considered under Cattle; Horse; Swine; Siieep; Poultby, etc. See, also, Hebed- ITT. BREED'S HILL. The hill in Charlestown (Boston). Mass., on which the battle of Bunker Hill was fought, and which is the site of the Bunker Hill Monument. It is somewhat south of the true Bunker Hill. BBEESE, Kjddek Randolph (1831-81). An American naval olBcer. born in Philadelphia. In 1840 he entered the navy as a midshipman. At the beginning of the Civil War he served as com- mander of the third division of Porter's mortar flotilla, in the attacks on Xew Orleans and Vicks- burg (1862), and. as lieutenant-commander, par- ticipated in the important operations on the Mississippi and its tributaries, during 1863 and 1864. He was then appointed fleet-captain of the Xorth Atlantic blockading .squadron, in which capacity he commanded the storming party in the naval assault on Fort Fisher (q.v.), January 15, 186.5. In 1874 he was raised to the rank of captain. BREEZE. Sec Bealfokt Scale. BREFELD, bra'felt, Oskar (1839—). A German butanist, born at Telgte, Westphalia. Ue was appointed professor of botany at Ebers- walde (1878), Miinster (1884), and Breslau ( 1898). His scientific investigations may be said to cover the field of mycology-. It was he who introduced the so-called "gelatin cultures' which at one time gained such wide application in bac- teriology. He published a series of volumes en- titled Cntersiichungen aus dem Gesamigebiete dcr Mykologie (187"2). BREGENZ, bra -gents' (anciently, Lat. Bri- (lanlium, the town on the heights, from Celt. braigh, brig, heap, elevation). The capital of the Austrian Crownland of 'orarlberg, situated about 1285 feet above sea-level, on the eastern shore of Lake Const,ance (Bodensee), 6 miles southeast of Lindau by rail, and 121 miles west- northwest of Innsbruck (Map: Austria, E 1). It consists of the old. or upi)cr. town and the new town, almost surrounding the former. Bre- genz has a fine town hall and a museum contain- ing a fine collection of Roman antiquities found in the neighborhood. Since the construction of the Arlberg Railroad (1880-84) and the intro- duction of steam navigation on the Lake of Con- stance, the importance of the town has largely increased. Its industries include the manufac- ture of cotton and silk fabrics and jewelry, and there is a considerable trade in grain, wood, and cattle. Population, in 1890. about 6700; in 1900, 7600. Under the name of Brigantium. the town was a Roman station, and in the Middle Ages the seat of the powerful Coimt.s of Bre- genz. In the Sixteenth Century it passed to the House of Hapsburg. BREGUET, bra'ga', Abraham Louis (1747- 1823). A French mechanician and watchmaker, a native of Xeuchatel. The astronomical and nautical instruments invented by him were noted for the perfection of their workmanship. His im- provements in watches included the use of rubies in pivot-holes. He was made a member of the Academy of Sciences in Paris, and of the French Bureau of Longitude. A grandson, Lori.s ( 1808- 83), also a watchmaker, had charge of establish- ing the first telegraphic line in France. He also invented the system of electric clocks for trans- mitting time to a distance, and published a num- ber of works on the telegraph. He was a mem- ber of the French Academy of Science. BREHM, brfim, Alfred Edmund (1829-84). A Ccrman naturalist and traveler. He was l)om in Rputhendorf, February 2, 1829, and died there Xovember 11, 1884 He studied natural history and ornithology with his father, who was a cele- brated ornithologist. From 1847 to 1854 he traveled through Egypt, Xubia. and the Sudan, and later in Spain, Lapland, .byssinia. and Siberia. In 1862 he was appointed director of the Zoiilogical Garden in Hamburg, and from 1867 to 1874 he was director of the BiTlin Aquarium. He published in 1863 the first edi- tion of the Illustrirtes Thicrlrben, the most im- por tant work of its kind at th*t time. BREHM, CiiRiSTLAN LuDWiG (1787-1864). A German ornithologist. He was born in Schiinau, near Ootha, studied theology in Jena from 1807 to 1809, and held several pastorates. His most vahiable works are: Bcitriige zur Vogelkunde. 3 vols. (1821-22); Lchrbuch der yaturgeschichte